Reclining Shampoo Chair

ABSTRACT

A reclining shampoo chair for shampooing a child&#39;s hair is provided. The reclining shampoo chair includes a seat having a rear and a base portion with a width and depth to support a child in a seated position thereon. A lever arm disposed on the seat pivots a backrest on the rear of the seat in a rearwardly inclined position or in a forward substantially horizontal position. The backrest includes a U-shaped top portion with a neck cushion disposed thereon. A pair of generally rectangular arm rests extend upwardly from the seat. A plurality of legs having hinged connections at the base portion of seat are adapted move between an extended position inclined outwardly from the seat and a retracted position within the seat.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/981,865 filed on Apr. 21, 2014. The above identified patentapplication is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety toprovide continuity of disclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a shampoo recliner chair. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a reclining Shampoo chairfor shampooing a child's hair including a seat having a rear and a baseportion with a width and depth to support a child in seated positionthereon. A backrest is pivoted on the rear of the seat and includes aU-shaped top portion with a neck cushion disposed thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shampooing in salons before a haircut can be an uncomfortable experiencefor many children. Traditional salon chairs are not designed for smallchildren, and cannot be adjusted to accommodate children's height. As aresult, children are subject to staying in an uncomfortable position foran extended time, and may end up getting soap and water into their eyes.

Typically, to shampoo a child's hair, a small seat or cushion is placedon a larger chair to elevate the child to a more desirable height.However, the small seat or cushion is devoid of a backrest thataccommodates a child. This prevents or makes it difficult for a child tolean backward so that the head could be in the proper position forshampooing and conventional tie devices have proven otherwiseuncomfortable and unsatisfactory.

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to chairs forshampooing a child's hair. These include devices that have been patentedand published in patent application publications. These devicesgenerally relate to reclining salon chairs for shampooing hair. U.S.Pat. No. 4,167,048 discloses a portable shampoo seat adapter forchildren that is disposed on the seat of a conventional barber orbeautician chair with the back thereof adjacent to and below aconventional shampoo wash bowl. Another device, U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,804discloses a chair comprising an adjustable inserted neck rest and areplaceable cushioned lining.

These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. Many devices inthe prior art provide only a seat or seat adapter whereon an adjustablebackrest can be placed. However, such seats or adapters may not besuitable for all children of different heights, and the seats fail toprovide a backrest with a U-shaped top portion. The devices in the priorart fail to disclose a Shampoo chair seat with steps for entering andexiting the chair, or a clip-on holder for toiletries.

In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted thatthe present invention substantially diverges in design elements from theprior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the artfor an improvement to existing reclining shampoo chair devices. In thisregard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofreclining shampoo chairs now present in the prior art, the presentinvention provides an improved reclining shampoo chair wherein the samecan be utilized for providing convenience for the user when shampooing achild's hair.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved reclining shampoo chair that has all of the advantages of theprior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a recliningshampoo chair including a seat having a rear and a base portion with awidth and depth to support a child in a seated position thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recliningshampoo chair having a backrest adapted to pivot on the rear of theseat. The backrest comprises a U-shaped top portion having a neckcushion thereon.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a recliningshampoo chair including a lever arm disposed on the seat portion. Thelever arm is adapted to pivot the backrest between a rearwardly inclinedposition and a forward substantially horizontal position relative to theseat.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a recliningshampoo chair having a pair of generally rectangular arm rests extendingfrom the seat and a pair of front legs and rear legs. Each of the frontlegs and the rear legs having hinged connections at the base portion ofthe seat to move between an extended position inclined outwardly fromthe seat and a retracted position within the seat. The pair of frontlegs further includes a plurality of step members and a rod. Each stepcomprises a side edge hingably connected to the rod.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recliningshampoo chair that may be readily fabricated from materials that permitrelative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannerin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the reclining shampoo chair accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the lever mechanism of the reclining shampoo chairaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the lever mechanism of the recliningshampoo chair according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the reclining backrest of the reclining shampoo chairaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the backrest of the reclining shampoochair according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the reclining shampoo chair. For the purposes of presentinga brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferredembodiment will be discussed as used for shampooing children's hair. Thefigures are intended for representative purposes only and should not beconsidered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of thereclining shampoo chair according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. The reclining shampoo chair 100 includes a seat 102 having arear 104 and a base portion 106 with a width and depth to support achild in seated position thereon. The reclining shampoo chair 100substantially resembles a shampoo chair and includes a backrest 108pivotally connected to the rear 104 of the seat 102. The backrest 108comprises a U-shaped top portion 110 with a neck cushion disposedthereon. A lever arm 112 is adapted to control the angle of the backrest108 relative to the seat 102. The seat 102 may further include a caddyattachment 126 removably mounted to the seat 102. The caddy 126 has aninterior volume to store toiletries or other equipment therein.

The reclining shampoo chair 100 further includes a pair of arm rests114, a pair of front legs 116, and a pair of rear legs 118. The pair ofarm rests 114 are generally rectangular and extend from the sideportions of the seat 102. The pair of arms 114 extend upwardly fromopposing sides of the seat 102. One or both of the arms 114 may includea cup holder 115 for placing a beverage container therein. The arms 114are padded so as to provide comfort to a child while preventing thechild from falling out of the chair. The pair of front legs 116 and rearlegs 118 have hinged connections at the base portion 106 of the seat102. The hinged connection allows the front and rear legs 116, 118 tomove between an extended position inclined outwardly from the seat 102and a retracted position perpendicular to the seat 102. In oneembodiment the rear legs 118 form a U-shape. The portion of the legs116, 118 touching the floor surface may also include a rubber cap. Thehinged connections allows the front and rear legs 116, 118 to be foldedwhen the device is not in use.

The pair of front legs 116 further includes a plurality of step members120 and a rod 122. Each step member 120 is interdisposed between thefront legs 116 and the rod 122. The step members 120 comprises a sideedge 124 hingably connected to the rod 122. The rod 122 extendsdownwardly from the seat 102 along the side edge 124 of each step member120. The rod 122 includes a hinged connection at the side edge 124 ofeach seat member 120. Each step member 120 is interdisposed between thefront legs 116 and the rod 122. The hinged connection between the sideedge 124 of the step member 120 and the rod 122 provides an extendedconfiguration and a retracted configuration. In the retractedconfiguration, the rod 122 and each step member 118 are parallel.

The seat 102 is elevated above the front and rear legs 116, 118 thatextend downward towards the floor. The front and rear legs 116, 118 areconnected via a hinged a connection. In the illustrated embodiment, thefront legs 116 comprise three steps spaced at regular intervals. Thesteps may be substantially flat or bowed, and may further comprise ashampoo friction surface to prevent slipping. The front and rear legs116, 118 may also include rubber material disposed at the terminal endsnear the floor to protect the floor surface.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there are shown views of the lever armassembly of the reclining shampoo chair. The lever arm 112 is adapted tocontrol the position of the backrest 108 relative to the seat 102. Thelever arm 112 is disposed on a side portion of the seat 102 between thebackrest 108 and the seat 102. The lever arm 112 pivots the backrest 108between a rearwardly inclined position and a forward substantiallyhorizontal position relative to the seat 102. The lever arm 112 acts ona tension spring 128 to tilt or recline the backrest 108.

The backrest 108 is pivotally connected to the seat 102 via a hinge 136.An end of the lever arm 112 is connected to the hinge 136. Rotating thelever arm 112 about the hinge 136 serves to cause the backrest 108 topivot relative to the seat 102. The lever arm 112 locks the backrest 108in a desired position. In one embodiment, the lever arm 112 acts on atension spring 128 to tilt or recline the backrest 108. The backrest 108is pivotally attached to the seat 102 via a connection arm 130 that iscoupled to the lever arm 112 via the hinge 136.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there are shown the reclining backrestof the reclining shampoo chair according embodiments of the presentinvention. The backrest 108 is pivotally attached to the rear of theseat. The backrest 108 comprises a U-shaped top portion 110. Preferably,a neck cushion is disposed on the U-shaped top portion 110 of thebackrest 108. The U-shaped top portion 110 slopes downwardly relative tothe seat to receive the contour of a user's neck.

The backrest 108 further comprises at least two arm portions 132. Thearm portions 132 are telescopic and include a locking switch 134 toadjust a height of each arm portion. The locking switch 134 is a pinthat extends through the arm portions 132 to lock the arms at a fixedheight. The arm portions 132 may comprise a plurality of apertures toprovide different heights for the backrest 108. The backrest 108 isadapted to recline backwards and is height adjustable so that it canslide upwards or downwards along a set of arm portions 132 on which itis affixed. The arm portions 132 connect the backrest 108 to the seatportion. In an exemplary embodiment, the backrest 108 is substantiallyround in shape and comprises padding.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown anddescribed in what is considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be madewithin the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications willoccur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the abovedescription then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assemblyand use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim: 1) A reclining shampoo chair for shampooing hair, comprising: aseat having a rear and a base portion with a width and depth to supporta child in seated position thereon; a backrest pivotally connected tothe rear of the seat, wherein the backrest comprises a U-shaped topportion; a neck cushion disposed on the U-shaped top portion of thebackrest; a lever arm disposed on the seat portion, the lever armadapted to pivot the backrest between a rearwardly inclined position anda forward substantially horizontal position relative to the seat; a pairof generally rectangular arm rests extending from the seat; a pair offront legs and a pair of rear legs having hinged connections at the baseportion of the seat to move between an extended position inclinedoutwardly from the seat and a retracted position within the seat;wherein the pair of front legs further includes a plurality of stepmembers and a rod, wherein each step member comprises a side edgehingably connected to the rod. 2) The reclining shampoo chair of claim1, wherein each of said plurality of step members is interdisposedbetween the front legs and the rod. 3) The reclining shampoo chair ofclaim 1, wherein the rod includes a hinged connection at the side edgeof each of said plurality of seat members. 4) The reclining shampoochair of claim 1, further comprising a belt disposed on the seat. 5) Thereclining shampoo chair of claim 1, further comprising a clip on caddyattachment attached to the seat. 6) The reclining shampoo chair of claim1, further comprising a locking switch disposed on the backrest adaptedto adjust the height of the backrest. 7) The reclining shampoo chair ofclaim 1, wherein the backrest further comprises at least two armportions connecting said backrest to said base member. 8) The recliningshampoo chair of claim 7, wherein the arm portions are telescopic. 9)The reclining shampoo chair of claim 8, wherein the arm portionscomprise a locking switch to adjust a height of each arm portion. 10)The reclining shampoo chair of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped top portionslopes downwardly relative to the seat. 11) The reclining shampoo chairof claim 1, wherein the hinged connection between the side edge of thestep member and the rod provide an extended configuration and aretracted configuration. 12) The reclining shampoo chair of claim 11,wherein in the retracted configuration the rod and each step member areparallel.